Since this website was first put up in 1999,
the scientific view of global warming as a result of excess carbon in the atmosphere
has clarified from uncertain to convinced.
Electrosolar has comissioned an independent statistical analysis (by David Holden, MA Oxon) of
accumulated carbon in the atmosphere..

In this section we display the results showing
the likely accumulation, derived both
from known sources of fossil fuel use, and from the extrapolated Mauna Loa atmospheric data.
From the trend in energy use and population we can derive a prediction
for energy use per person in the near future.

ATMOSPHERIC
CARBON

This graph shows how excess carbon has
built up in the atmosphere as a result of burning fossil fuels. Approximately
sixty percent of all carbon so far emitted is currently retained in the
atmosphere, the remainder having been absorbed by other carbon sinks, mainly
the oceans.

The CO2 concentration is expected to double (compared to
its pre industrial level) by 2050.

To avoid the climate
catastrophes of global warming - namely economic and political disruption and
their horrific consequences - we must think QUANTITATIVELY of achieving this
energy requirement (1.5kW/person) from zero carbon sources. Of course, improved
energy efficiency may bring down this target figure a bit, and even in the most
optimistic scenario, there will still be some fossil fuel use. A balance will be
struck, but we do need to strive to obtain ~1KW per person from non fossil
sources.

The graph below shows how the power consumption per capita is expected to
grow to 1.5KW per person by 2050.

POWER CONSUMPTION PER CAPITA

Notes:

Graph
1:

600GTC = 100Tons per person at year 2000 population. This
measurement is in EXCESS to the pre industrial background of about 600GTC.